There are nail clippings everywhere. There are tiny hairs on everything. It’s all covered in a layer of semen. Trust me, I reviewed the Dirtiest Hotel in America. Wash your hands often, wear slippers or sandals when you walk around your room and resist the urge to lick the TV remote.
People are connected more than ever before. Between Twitter, Facebook, foursquare, Flickr and all of the other social networking sites out there, you no longer need to leave your house to interact with friends and strangers (looking at you, Chatroulette). Social networking sites are also becoming key tools for travelers as they both plan and [...]
Currency. Weights. Distances. You’re going to be doing a lot of math on the road. Speed limits may be posted in km/h. How many dollars did that 14 dinar dinner cost? You bought how many kilos of peanuts? Probably too many. Take note of conversion rates. Bring a calculator with you. Perhaps pack one of [...]
Seeing where food comes from can be both an educational and harrowing experience. When you travel, tours of fish markets, breweries and other stops in the consumption chain make for amazing learning opportunities. Tsukiji Fish Market was a highlight of my trip to Japan. Checking out Brooklyn Brewery just over the bridge from where I [...]
Some people love beach vacations. They go to all-inclusive resorts, sip fruity drinks with umbrellas, get their hair braided and return home with drunken, hazy memories of how they got those awkward tan lines. Others ride horses along the shore or camp in the sand. And while some people may knock beach vacations as “inauthentic [...]
America has given us Wal-Mart, Kmart, Home Depot, Costco, BJ’s and countless other big box, all-in-one stores. And while they keep prices down, they have destroyed family-owned specialty stores. Thankfully, those types of locally-owned specialized shops still exist all over the world. Take advantage of those stores – and the experts who own them – [...]
In the States, fast food is a cheap alternative to “real food.” It’s processed. It’s unhealthy. It makes us fat. In the rest of the world, fast food is often just as delicious as anything that you’ll find in corner bistros and cafes. In Japan, MOS Burger is the second-largest fast food chain in the [...]
It’s easy to get carried away when partying during a trip. You’re not worried about work, schedules or being a functional member of society. You want to impress your new friends in the hostel or be a gracious guest with your host who is plying you with strange and intoxicating liquids. But losing control on [...]
Exploring cities is exciting, but nothing beats getting back to nature. Grab a friend, some water and a bag of trail mix and go for a long hike. Between the fresh air, the chirping birds and the fact that you can pee anywhere you want, hiking is pretty much the best way to spend an [...]
The world won’t adjust for you. You have to make yourself comfortable. Wake up earlier than you’re used to. Take off your shoes before you enter someone’s home if that’s what they ask you to do. Eat vegetarian meals if that’s all that is available. You may just learn that you enjoy doing things differently. [...]
